“consequence yet hanging in the stars” shall begin at “this night's revels” (Capulet's party).
When Romeo sees Juliet he speaks about her, using metaphor:
“She doth teach the torches to burn bright”.
This tells us that Juliet's beauty is much brighter than that of the torches - so she is very beautiful. She is so much brighter that she teaches the torches how to shine - a poetic exaggeration, since torches can't really be taught. It is important for Romeo to say this, as the audience cannot see Juliet's beauty directly - in Shakespeare's theatre a boy, perhaps seen at some distance, plays Juliet. But the metaphor also tells us that it is night, as Romeo can see the torches he compares her to.
Romeo is stunned by Juliet's beauty; his speech is rich in romantic imagery. The striking simile:
“It seems she hangs on the
cheek of night / As a rich jewel in an Ethiop's ear”
This is also an effective metaphor. Shakespeare uses this to show the audience of Romeo’s passionate nature.
Shakespeare uses many techniques to show the dramatic effect of Capulet speech. In contrast, at the opening of this scene the preparations for the party that is to take place that evening are underway. The servants 'hurry about the stage,' cleaning up and moving the tables to create a dance floor:
“Away with the joint stools, remove the court cupboard, look to the plate”
The atmosphere is one of happiness.
Capulet is relaxed, and appears to be enjoying himself as he welcomes his guests:
“Welcome gentlemen! Ladies that have their toes……
Welcome gentlemen! I have seen the day…..
You are welcome gentlemen! Come musicians, play.”
He repeats welcome gentlemen three times to make a impact on the audience, he also makes the audience as if they are part of the party:
“You are welcome gentlemen!”
Whilst he admits he is ‘past dancing days,’ he is content to watch the younger guests dance. He is also reminiscing about his past; one could say that he is introducing a theme of the love to the night, love that will end in sadness:
“That I have worn a visor and could tell
A whispering tale in a fair lady’s ear
Such as would please: ‘tis gone, ‘tis gone, ‘tis gone”
He repeats ‘tis gone’ three times to make an impact, he does this well. He uses a effective metaphor to describe to us how ‘hot’ the party is:
“more lights, you knaves;and turn the tables up,
And quench the fire, the room is grown too hot”
Near the end of his speech he cools down the atmosphere to focus on him and second capulet:
“Ah sirrah, this unlook’d-for sport comes well.
Nay,sit,nah,sit,good cousin Capulet
For you and I are past our dancing days”
He uses the metaphor earlier on to describe how hot the room is, later he ‘cools’ down the room/party to focus on him. If it was a scene on a film the camera would zoom into him and all the background noise would go.
I think Shakespeare uses all these techniques effectively.
Romeo’s speech is different to Capulet’s because Romeo speaks in romantic rhyme whereas Capulet speaks in Verse. They are both effective for there own purpose, Romeo speaking in romantic rhyme really emphasises the fact he’s in love. It shows exactly how much he is in love. Romeo uses the beautiful metaphor
“It seems she hangs on the cheek of night”
When Romeo sees Juliet he speaks about her, using metaphor again:
“She doth teach the torches to burn bright”.
This tells us that Juliet's beauty is much brighter than that of the torches - so she is very beautiful. She is so much brighter that she teaches the torches how to shine - a poetic exaggeration, since torches can't really be taught. It is important for Romeo to say this, as the audience cannot see Juliet's beauty directly - in Shakespeare's theatre a boy, perhaps seen at some distance, plays Juliet. But the metaphor also tells us that it is night, as Romeo can see the torches he compares her to.
Shakespeare has already prepared the audience for ‘two star-crossed lovers’ to meet so the audience are excited and anxious about what’s going to happen.
Shakespeare makes Romeo’s soliloquy very moving by using various techniques.
Romeo asks ‘servant’ who Juliet is, though he doesn’t know who Juliet is at time, the ‘servant’ replies “I know not, sir”. This is strange as a servant working for the ‘Capulet’ would know who she is. Shakespeare does this to create dramatic irony and tension for the audience as the audience know that she is Juliet Capulet, it also allows Romeo to fall in love with a mystery woman. In Romeo’s speech he talks in beautiful romantic verse:
“The measures done, ill watch her place of stand,
And touching hers, make blessed my rude hand.”
Romeo’s speech also changes the mood of the play; Capulet’s speech was very relaxed and fun whereas Romeos soliloquy is serious but romantic. In this speech Romeo also realizes that his love for Rosaline was actually no love at all, and that he is truly in love with Juliet he shows that with romantic imagery:
“Did my heart love till now? Forswear it, sight!
For I ne’er saw true beauty till this night.”
Shakespeare also uses Contrast to show the audience how beautiful Juliet is:
“So shows a snowy dove trooping with crows”
This is a effective contrast because dove symbolises beauty, and doves are white and crows are black so this is effective. Shakespeare uses metaphors “It seems she hangs upon the cheek of night” this is to show how beautiful she is. He also uses simile’s “Like a rich jewel in Ethiopia’s ear” The reason Shakespeare describes her a lot is because when the play was performed Juliet would have been played by a boy so he might not of been as beautiful so Shakespeare used techniques like imagery and simile’s to paint a picture of ‘beautiful Juliet’ in the audience’s mind.
Romeo puts across in his soliloquy that he is falling in love with Juliet and Rosaline was not true love. His language was different from Capulet’s because Romeo speaks in contrast, imagery etc whereas Capulet’s language is very relaxed.
The mood changes when Tybalt hears Romeos voice. Tybalt is very angry when he finds out that Romeo is at his dinner party “This, by his voice, should be a Montague.” Shakespeare also creates excitement in the audience when Tybalt continues with “Fetch me my rapier boy”
Tybalts anger continues to rise, when Capulet realises and brings him to one side “content thee, gentle coz, let him alone” Capulet doesn’t want a fight because of the princes orders but little does he know this has set up the fight scene for later on between Romeo and Tybalt. This brings fear and excitement in the audience, also the fact that Romeo does not know that he has been seen also makes the audience even more anxious if what’s going to happen.
The scene where Romeo and Juliet meet is the scene the audience have been waiting for up to now, so already the audience are excited this is because of the way Shakespeare builds them up to this scene. The feelings between Romeo and Juliet are expressed in a sonnet. The shared sonnet between Romeo and Juliet are full of religious overtones. Their formal use of language has a dignified pace and stresses the purity and sincerity of their love for each other. Romeo’s language is still a little forced and exaggerated and he has not yet completely shaken off his somewhat studied manner, meaning that like Juliet said ‘you kiss by the book’ he isn’t being natural. The duet between Romeo and Juliet is in sonnet form and its use of religious words isolates the characters from the rest of the scene and its bustling activity. We can’t be completely sure but Shakespeare makes Romeo seem more in love with Juliet which makes Rosaline just seem like an infatuation.
Romeo and Juliet’s fantasy is shaken when they realise that they are from the family’s enemy. Both Romeo and Juliet react almost the same, both shaken to find out that the other is from the family enemy. Juliet finds this out by asking the nurse who various gentlemen are not to make it obvious that she like Romeo. Juliet makes an ironic comment ‘My grave is like to be my wedding bed’ this quotes her future. Juliet is very upset that her one love is from the enemy ‘My only love sprung from my only hate’.
Shakespeare has made this a tension high point, he leaving the audience anxious of what’s going to happen.
